Swans: the stars of Prospect Park

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Art in the Park

First, the good news:

Our tornado warning time is now over, and I can go back to thinking what a great day it was in the park this morning. There's some beautiful new art there - three huge sculptures near the Audubon Boathouse. They look like giant rocks and tree trunks, but are aluminum, silvery, lovely. And there is more good news: 5 new baby swans (cygnets). All looking healthy and happy. And with no "Fishing Day" this year, they have a good chance of staying that way.

The bad news: On Friday and Saturday, the first days of Memorial Day Weekend, all the trash cans were already full. Didn't look good. Apparently, they came on Sunday (I didn't), but Tuesday morning it was a disaster. People left entire picnic sites in the park - blankets, grills, toys, shoes, basketballs, soccer balls, and bags and bags of food and trash. And this was in all areas of the park, not just the official BBQ areas. All the dog owners were carefully monitoring their pooches, keeping them away from the piles of chicken bones left all over. Truly disgusting!!

An article in one of the little Brooklyn papers had people claiming that they had no idea that you couldn't just BBQ anywhere. What crap!! So there were fires in the trees, 3 crates of corn cobs picked up from the "No BBQ" Peninsula site, trays of charcoal thrown into the lake at several places. It's like they want to picnic in a dump site. I'm lucky enough to have my own back yard for BBQing, but you would think that people would take better care of the park if they want to keep it available for BBQing. There are a lot of people working hard to keep the park clean and lovely. What can we do about these trash people?

Beautiful, beautiful day

Well, we've been going to the park on and off, but just haven't felt the blogging urge in a little bit. Today. when I didn't have my camera, I was, of course, inspired to write. Where to start? A couple of days ago, we went up the hill and found 17 crack bags, mostly near the base of the hill. Had the rain washed them down? Was this because we hadn't been in a few days (the rain)? Was there a party? Was this one last smoke-in just before the new antismoking rules went into effect? We speculated endlessly and, I think, entertainingly. Today we got our answer: none of the above. Fourteen crack bags today. Spring is here. It's a beautiful, beautiful day.

Actually, it feels more like summer. Beautiful quiet spots all over, with thick overhangings of trees. Lots and lots of dogs and owners, all enjoying this gorgeous day. We saw two groups of geese, one group of 19 and one group of 7, all adults. These were all at the SE part of the lake. Wer have no idea if there are more at the other end or in other parts of the park, but it was nice to see the 26. Three cygnets, looking big and beautiful.

Rumor and hearsay: The "park dog," as he is called because of the belief that he actually lives here, may not. There have been reports of a man in the park every morning, feeding him. And he does look well cared for. Current rumor is that someone leaves him in the Park all day as a day care site.

Wildlife count

Today's wildlife count: 14 geese, 5 crack bags, 3 cygnets, and a beautiful big white snowy egret. No pictures - I used up my camera's battery. Very annoying. I knew the battery was getting low, and left it next to the camera. However, in the mental haze of getting to the park early, I completely forgot it. I used to be kind of spontaneous and free-spirited and remember all kinds of things. Now, sad to say, I have to organize myself in order to remember things. So I leave the things I'll need to take to the park on top of the hall bookcase the night before - glasses, camera, watch. Now it seems like that doesn't work - it takes days to develop a new habit. Something to do with getting older. Oh well, it's better than the alternative.

Amazing that they did the Sunday trash pickup, since every can was overflowing again today. I picked up a lot more than just crack bags on Lookout Hill today. There was a huge beverage tray - the kind that the delivery trucks use. And limes, so I presume that it was a full party's worth of beer. Did not see the beer cans! Guess I wasn't the only one who wanted to stay all day in the park in the beautiful weather yesterday. And it makes up for the cooler, grayer weather that we'll have all week.

Latest geese report

Beautiful sunny day in the park actually it's been gorgeous for a few days, since we managed to miss the rain and thunder. JJ has her new summer cut - I am posting before and after pictures. She now has a velvety smooth coat and is much friskier. Less fur to carry plus she stays cooler. Met a woman who has had Border Collies or at least part Border Collies. Border collies get out a lot, and there are a lot of "parts" out there. Anyway, she says Border Collies are generally hardy and quite long-lived. this is a relief to hear. JJ is now 9. Our previous dog, Lucy, a Golden retriever, only lived to be 11. I know that big dogs don't live as long as small ones, so we were getting sad in anticipation. She said the longest lived dog in the world was a Border Collie who lived to be 27! Wouldn't that be grand!

Anyway, to get back to spring in the park...Sprucing up the cruising boat outside the Boat House. Port-a-john still topped over, lots of ducks, turtles out sunning everywhere (how silly of me to have worried!), 3 cygnets in sight, only 1 lone goose that I could see. HOWEVER, I did see Martin from Prospect Alliance about to go out in a boat, and had a chat with him.

First, the good news: the swan parents are nesting at the other end of the lake - not the same nest as last year, but a new one. They are doing fine. He says there are about 30 geese at the lake, all nesting.

The bad news: He has addled all the goose eggs he has found. He says he hasn't done anything to the swan eggs. We had a warm (less than heated, but with some passion) discussion about this. We agreed that killing all the geese last year was bad, and that it was not the Parks Dept. who decided to kill. That's the baseline of agreement. He says they are addling the geese eggs because they don't want any resident geese in the park, since that would eventually lead to an overcrowded situation and inspire someone (mayor? Feds?) to come and commit genocide again. Migrating geese passing through would be fine. I said that I thought wildlife was important, and that wildlife management meant keeping a small (50-100?) resident population of geese in the Park. And Martin, should you happen to read this, please feel free to comment and correct if I have misstated your position.

Anyway, the Brooklyn paper has an article and a video of one of their reporters following Martin to addle the eggs. Well, they don't actually addle the eggs, they just go and visit a pre-addled nest, and you get to see how upset and protective the father goose is. The reporter was totally gleeful about the whole thing, while I was not. Very disturbing that anyone can be so happy about killing wildlife and potential wildlife. Here's a link:http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/34/18/web_gooseaddlevid_2011_5_6_bk.html

Martin has not seen the 4th cygnet, the one that I think is male. No sign of him, living or not. It is quite likely that he has flown elsewhere, maybe to Gateway or another swan habitat. Let's hope.

My husband, who does try to get me out of my dark, angry moods, pointed out how nice it was to see the migrating geese this year, that it would be a nice cyclical thing by which to measure the seasons, etc. Hmph!

Ready for the fishing season

Here's Tony, the President of FIDO, getting ready for the upcoming season of fishing, fishing lines left on the ground, in the trees, and around the waterfowl. Net and grabber at the ready! Hopefully, we will lose no birds to hooks and line left by careless fisherpeople this year. I love that Tony cares as much about the birds as the dogs. There are FIDO people who hate the water fowl and birders who hate the dogs, and Tony can name names and tell you exactly who's who. We are united in the concept that the park is for ALL creatures.

I will do regular counts of the geese and swans, so we can keep track. Ducks and gulls as much as I can. As I said, the geese seem to be concentrated in two areas. It's awfully hard to walk around the lake these days - on part of the path you have to walk on hay bales around the Lakeside fencing. Pictures coming in the future.

Yes, I did see all 6 swans. The parents were hanging out south of what I'm calling the main beach. The main beach would be the area closest to Vanderbilt playground, full of nannies and children on nice days. To the south is an area that is a little more secluded and closer to the Park Circle entrance. I don't think the swans have nested yet. Remember, last year's clutch were born on May 21. Mute swans incubate about 35 days, which would mean it starts at April 17. But these numbers are not set in stone, and I think it needs to be a little warmer to lay eggs. As I recall from my farm years, ducks (we didn't have swans) lay an egg a day for a number of days before they start setting on them, and the weather has to be warm enough. I used to find the nest and take all the eggs but one, so the ducks would continue to lay in the same place and we'd have lovely duck egg omelets. (Pause to reminisce). Anyway, one of the cygnets does seem to be separated from the other 3. It's why I think there's one male and 3 females - one of them was always more aggressive, more inclined to spread wings, etc.

Misc. observations

Candle Man (and yes, I'm assuming it's a man) has not cleaned up the mess or responded to my note, but it's possible that he hasn't been by lately. There are the same number of cans/candles/tin foils. they seem to have been moved, but we've had a few days of heavy wind and rain that could have done that. Will keep monitoring.

The lake water level is quite high, and most of the ice is gone. Note picture of one hard-core (pun intended) corner of the lake. The Lullwater still has a lot of ice, but the boathouse pond is quite clear.

Got a fairly nice shot of the egret, and of two cygnets posing in their heart position. I'm working on trying to take clearer pictures of the extreme zoom shots. It's not quite as easy to hold my hands very still. We saw an eagle flying overhead. Beautiful, but as yet unphotographable.

There are still a few patches of snow left on the Nethermead, and a bunch of very happy dogs playing in a large puddle created by the melting snow. We were 3 adults and 2 dogs today. When we got to the Nethermead, B and I split up for our usual circular walk around the edge. N went into the middle with Chewy, who is more sociable and likes to play with the other little dogs. Poor JJ was very confused with this 3-way split! But she eventually did her running back and forth, desperately trying to gather her unruly herd.

The Great Prospect Park Ice Break-up

There are beautiful cracks in the ice, as the open water areas are getting bigger and bigger. Lullwater is still completely frozen, but the big lake and the Boat House area are clearing. Mama and Papa swan have moved over the the Boathouse area, while the cygnets are still in the big lake, swimming about in pairs, heads frequently going under to feast in all the newly-de-iced areas, and those veggie goodies now within reach. Took me three tries to get a nice shot of a pair of cygnets. Just as I went click, a head went under. Patiently waited till it came up, just as I went click again, the other head went under.

Soccer players in the Parade Grounds again! Dressed rather warmly, but determined to declare that it is spring and they will act accordingly!

It was perfect "dog in the park" weather - a bit cold, and the ground was firm. We ran JJ and Chewie back and forth across the Nethermead about 10 times, and then a little more at the Peninsula. We saw Tony from FIDO at the Peninsula, and I got to thinking how incredibly lucky we are to have FIDO and the off-leash hours. At other places in the city, especially in Manhattan, there are dog runs the size of shoeboxes, complete with waiting lists, size limitations, interviews and testing to see if your dog would be acceptable, etc. Here in Prospect Park, we've got three gorgeous, giant areas for dogs to run free, and at reasonable times. Well, I think up to 9AM is reasonable, since my "stay up late, sleep to noon" days are long over.

Tony says it was actually Tupper Thomas who officially instigated the off-leash hours. I am not her biggest fan, but this is a good thing she did. Life would be so much simpler if we could clearly state that people were either good or evil. Damn, they're much more complicated than that. Requires thinking. Brain hurting....
Ber says he heard that the off-leash hours were started because the Park was considered very dangerous. The off-leash hours were started to bring lots of people and dogs to the park, and make it a safer place. One of those cheap and easy solutions that actually work (so rare!) Got to give people credit for good ideas.

Up to Lookout Hill again today, marginally less huffing and puffing. Spruced up the top by putting assorted cans and bottle in the trash. Four or 3 1/2 crack bags, depending on how you're counting them - one was tiny (see photo).

Note to PattyA I am one of your followers and read your blog regularly, just haven't commented. Thanks for your interest/support/love of wildlife.

The Kids leave home

Today, it wasn't just the sulky teen-aged swan that is keeping away from his family. The other 3 cygnets have also found their own place. There are more areas of non-contiguous open water, and the 3 have moved into their own area - no ducks or geese or coots there, just the three of them.

Previously, I had noticed that one of the cygnets did more displaying of aggression than the others - flapping its wings, lowering the neck, etc. So I think that there is one male - the first one to move out, and now his 3 sisters have followed suit. Don't know if I'll ever find out the truth about it, but it makes perfect sense to me.

If Mama and Papa nest again this year, it will be in another 4-6 weeks. A good time, now to get the young 'uns off to a good start. I just hope that neither the geese nor the Parks Dept have messed up last year's nest, since I believe they (the swans) tend to re-use nests. Very recycling conscious. Not to say anything bad about our beloved geese, but last year, after the cygnets were born, they did kind of rampage through the nesting site. And nobody knows what nonsense the Parks Department will do in the name of "management."

Back to park watching

Back to the park today after a week in New Hampshire, where the lake is cool and delicious, and the last two days the weather was cool. What a shock to come back to 100 degree weather! Anyway, we got up and out pretty early, while it was still merely very warm.

The geese seem to be regrouping. I didn't count, but an article in the Times says there are 26 now, and I don't doubt it. They are playing nicely with the ducks and pigeons. The Times article also says that they want to get rid of about 2/3 of the geese in the Northeast. This seems excessive, to say the least. Hard to believe that in the 50's Canada geese were on the endangered species list. Apparently, people took the eggs to hatch them, and the geese laid a second time. Twice the number of goslings. Then, the taken eggs hatched but were not raised by geese parents, and didn't learn to migrate. So now, many Canada Geese do not migrate, just stay in one spot, breeding and pooping and becoming a nuisance. Also, feeding geese is very very bad, although everyone loves to do it. It just breeds more of them. Kind of like tribbles (from Star Trek).

I always tried to avoid feeding the geese in the park. My popcorn was always aimed at the swans and ducks, who always seem to need it and are not so invasive. Alas, the geese were very pushy and always got their share plus. Today, I saw people happily feeding the birds so much food that the lake edge was lined with crackers and bread crumbs. People like to feed animals. It's in our nature. Perhaps the Parks Dept. can come up with a way to accommodate this precept?

The Times article also referred to future goose killings as euthanasia. This is such a misuse of the word that I am appalled. This is the Times, after all. They're supposed to print good English! Euthanasia is mercy killing. Where is the mercy here? Absolutely nowhere. Let's use the correct word: killing, murder, or extermination. Maybe harvesting if the geese are to be used for food. But not euthanasia. The geese were not miserable and didn't need to be put out of their misery! Enough. I'm ranting.

The cygnets are growing beautifully. They are still living near the Audubon Center, swimming with the turtles.

There is actual repair work being done on the Lullwater bridge!! Nice to see!

Elsewhere in the park, the trash cans are not overflowing so much, a welcome surprise on a Sunday morning. I know there must have been a lot of people in the park on Saturday. And we found dozens of clean, new trash cans still in the Skating House. I wonder what they are saving them for? Wouldn't they be better out in the park, maybe COLLECTING TRASH!!!!!

Just an average day, with no horror stories

So, the first thing we do when we get to the park these days is go and check on the nesting swans. This seems to be the only swan family in the park these days, and we are amazingly concerned about their welfare. It feels like being an imminent parent all over again - waiting for the cygnets to hatch. I'm estimating they'll hatch sometime in May, although we really don't know, since we don't know when she started setting on them. Occasionally, I wonder to myself, "What if they never hatch." and feel quite anxious and fearful about that possibility.

Papa was exceptionally protective today - came over to us and hissed and spread his wings when we were standing on the shore. We were just trying to get close enough to take a picture of an egret hanging out there - one with grayish wings at the edges. The second picture has this egret - enlarge, and it's there. This is not the all-white one we've seen and whom we saw today by the Lullwater). A birder we stopped and asked says the grayish feathers are usually the sign of an immature egret. He also tells us that they usually don't nest here, but in Jamaica Bay or Brother Island, and that they fly miles each day to search for food.

Weather stunningly gorgeous and clear today and yesterday. A little chilly - just right for walking. We spotted a robin's nest yesterday - nice to know the eggs don't all end up on the ground. Also noted progress in the playground: large, domed structure being set up. The BBQ cages are almost finished, and they are nowhere near the playground. Don't quite understand this. There used to be a nice little BBQ grove next to the playground, so the adults could socialize while the children played in the playground. Now they are quite far from each other, and the BBQ cage seems quite unwelcoming. Maybe that's the idea? And is the fence permanent? I have noticed that no fence ever seems to come down in the park - there are falling down fences everywhere. I wonder if this is a strategy or just laziness/neglect/budget cuts.

Clean-up notes: the disgusting mess is still there, but drying out. Probably good that there's no rain for a bit. Speaking of no rain, the lake level is down slightly, and some of the mini-lakes are reduced to mud puddles. We noticed yesterday that the disgusting paper was blowing around, so I gritted my teeth and picked it up and brought it to a trash can. Luckily, we now come to the park with rubber gloves and handi-wipes, in addition to the usual plastic bags for the dog.

Another can/candle/tin foil combination in the same spot as before, this time new, with no fire burning. Took it to the trash can. If I keep removing it, will the person give up? Yesterday we (well, Ber) moved the plywood near to a trash can - someone had put it back in the water, so we dragged it further away. Not picked up yet, lying on the ground by the can.